MP raps Mogo landboard for poor filing system

ARNOLD LETSHOLO
Correspondent | Tuesday February 16, 2010 00:00

Raletobana was briefing Gabane residents during a recent well-attended Kgotla meeting he addressed in the village. 'Every time you go to the landboard offices to make a follow-up on applications they will tell you that they are still dealing with applications from as far back as 1992/93. If you tell them that you had applied during those years but there has been nothing forthcoming they would tell you that some files cannot be found. Since files have 'disappeared', you will be asked to take an oath, after which you will be assured of being allocated land but that does not happen at all.' The MP said despite repeated appeals to the landboard to computerise applications a long time ago, they told him that they had not yet computerised the filing system.

 'Consequently they are saddled with a backlog of 250, 000 applications. Part of the problem is that some people are allocated plots time and time again. There are even situations whereby one person can be allocated up to three residential plots,' he said amid murmurs from listeners. 'Yes, an acquaintance of mine revealed it to me that he had been allocated three plots. This is unfair given that there are people in this village who grew up, got married and bore children while still living with their parents. This is because the landboard has failed to allocate them plots.'

Raletobana said he has approached the Lands Minister (Nonofo Molefhi) about 'this sad situation'. He is still to have an audience with him, and if nothing concrete materialises then he will take the matter up in Parliament. The problem of land allocation in Gabane is acute. Its close proximity to Gaborone city attracts a lot of applications from people from all over the country. In the 1990s when many people wanted plots in the village, some residents sold parts of their ploughing fields to land seekers from Gaborone.  Many squatters meanwhile moved into the village and its surroundings. The village was one of those that fell victim to the 'yellow monster' - the bulldozer that was unleashed by the then Lands Minister, Jacob Nkate. Like Robert Mugabe's infamous Operation Murambatsvina, shacks belonging to squatters were destroyed during the widely criticised operation. Some families broke up while some residents died at the sight of the monster as it ploughed through what used to be their homes. When contact for comment, Mogoditshane landboard secretary, Abednigo Maphuru said computer data was upgraded last year, but they will follow up the MP's observations and take remedial measures should the need arise. (Sila Press Agency)